Christmas tree stand



y 1954 R. w. MELDRUM 2,679,371

CHRISTMAS TREE STAND Filed July 11 1949 IN VEN TOR.

Fay W Mclnlrum 2W m. and

ATTOR Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in Christmas tree stand whereinit is desired to proseveral years and has proven extremely satisfactoryfor its purpose. However, in some instance it has been found desirableto provide a means for engaging the portion of the tree trunk enclosedwithin the stand for insuring the vertical position of the tree trunk.By engaging a portion of the trunk near the lower extremity thereof thetrunk is engaged at two spaced points and is thus more firmly held.Attempts have been made to provide a cup shaped receptacle in the basefor engaging the lowermost end of the tree trunk. However, in someinstances the tree trunks are not forced into the stand to the extentnecessary to engage the lower end of the tree with the base of thestand. Accordingly it has been found desirable to engage the tree trunkat a point spaced upwardly from the base of the stand.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a tree engagingmember within the Christmas tree stand so as to hold the tree at twospaced points. This support is formed of scrap metal produced during thestamping of the portions of the stand and therefore may be produced atlow cost. Furthermore, the support extends between the center portion ofthe top of the stand and I the base of the stand, acting to resistcompression on the top of the stand. As a result the stand incorporatingthe support is stronger than it would otherwise be, or else may be madeof lighter metal without sacrificing compressive strength.

A feature of the present invention resides in providing a support whichmay be automatically located in proper position without the necessity ofwelding or other aflixing the support in place. Th support includes aring-shaped portion designed to encircle the downwardly extending sleevein the center of the top of the stand so that when the top of the standis secured to the base, the support is automatically aligned with thesleeve. An apertured flange is supported spaced above the base of thestand for engagement with the lowermost end of the tree trunk to holdthe same in vertical position.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be moreclearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a sectional view centrally through the stand showing thesupport in place therein.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the support removed from the stand.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the stand isformed.

The stand A is generally similar to the construction illustrated in mypreviously described Patent No. 2,337,914. The stand includes asubstantially flat bottom disc it and an upwardly bowed upper portion ll. The upper portion II is convex on its upper surface and is providedwith a peripheral outwardly extending marginal flange l2 designed to lieflat against the base along the periphery thereof. A gasket may beprovided between the flange l2 and the base NJ if desired. The marginaledge l3 of the top portion is crimped over the marginal edge of thebottom disc' ID to seal the parts It! and H marginally together.

The upwardly bowed top portion l l is provided with an integraldown-turned sleeve M at its center point. This sleeve M is bentdownwardly from the body of the top H to form a guide and support forthe trunk of the tree inserted thereinto. The sleeve [4 also tends toprevent the spilling of liquid or semi-liquid material within the bodyof the stand A. The stands are usually partially filled with materialwhich serves to keep the tree in a fresh condition and to keep theneedles of the tree from dropping off for a considerable period of time.

The support B which is interposed into the stand A to form a support forthe top member H is best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. Thissupport B includes a back panel i5 which is foldably connected alongvertical parallel fold lines [6 and ll to side panels l9 and 20. Theside panels I9 and 20 are connected along fold lines 2| and 22 to baseflanges 23 and 24 respectively. A top flange 25 is connected to the backpanel I5 along a fold line 26. A bottom panel 21 is connected along therear panel [5 along a fold line'29. Supporting flanges 30 and 3| areconnected to the bottom flange 2! along parallel fold lines 32 and 33.

A sleeve 34 is punched from the top flange 25 and is downwardly directedtoward the bottom flange 21. A sleeve 35 is punched in the bottom flange21 to extend downwardly therefrom. The flanges 34 and 35 are inalignment in the formed position of the support B. g

It will be noted that the lower edge of the rear base panel ill of thestand A. As a result the aperture 35 may engage the lower edge of thetree even though this lower edge is not inserted into the stand adistance sufficient to contact the bottom panel 10.

In assembling the stand, the standard B is preferably placed so that thesleeve 34 is in telescoping relation with the integral sleeve 14 of thestand top member II. This arrangement automatically locates the supportwithin the stand body and insures the fact that the lower sleeve 35 isin alignment with the upper sleeve 34. The side panels 19 and 20 bearagainst the undersurface of the stand top member II and thus are able toresist considerable compressive force on the top member of the stand.The down-turned flanges 30 and 3| on the lower flange 2'! support thislower flange in parallel relation to the bottom ll) of the stand andalso resist substantial downward force. As a result the stand A .is muchstronger made of the same metal, or may possess similar compressivestrength even though made of lighter gauge metal.

If desired the standard may be first attached to the base by means ofspot welding or the like through the use of a suitable jig or fixture toproperly locate the support upon the base. However, the support usuallyprovides the strength required without this welding operation andtherefore the simpler assembly method is usually preferred.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my Christmas tree stand, and while Ihave endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire tohave it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope ofthe following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A Christmas tree stand including a receptacle having a base and a topportion marginally secured thereto, the top portion including acentrally down-turned sleeve providing an opening through said topportion, a support including a pair of vertically disposed spaced panelsof proper dimensions to engage the top portion and the base and to holdthe same in proper spaced relationship, and means on said sup ortencircling said sleeve for holding said panels in proper position.

.2. A Christmas tree stand including a top porthan previously if tionand a base marginally secured thereto, a downwardly extending sleevecentrally positioned on said top portion circumjacent an opening in saidtop portion, and a support interposed between said top portion and saidbase, said support including a pair of generally parallel panelsextending from said top portion to said base to hold the same inproperly spaced relationship, a connecting panel connecting an edge ofsaid parallel panels, and means on said support encircling said sleevefor locating said panels relative to the sleeve.

3. The structure described in claim 2 in which the last named meanscomprises a flange connected to said connecting panel and having anaperture therethrough encircling said sleeve.

4. The construction described in claim 2 and including flanges on saidparallel panels designed to overlie said base.

5. The structure described in claim 2 and in-- cluding a flange on saidsupport extending parallel to the base of the stand and having anaperture therethrough in alignment with said sleeve.

6. The structure described in claim 2 and including a flange on saidconnecting panel extending parallel to the base of the stand and spacedtherefrom, and an aperture therethrough in alignment with said sleeve.

'7. A Christmas tree stand including a hollow receptacle having a baseand a top member connected together, a central downwardly extendingsleeve in said top member, the bore of said sleeve communicating with anopening in said top member, and a support interposed between said topmember and said base provided with a pair of vertically disposed spacedpanels for holding said top member and base in properly spaced relation;said support including a guide located between said top and said basefor engaging the trunk of a tree inserted through said sleeve.

8. A support for spacing the top and bottom members of a Christmas treestand, the support including a pair of substantially parallel panelshaving top, bottom, front and rear edges, a connecting panel connectingthe rear edge of said panels, a top flange connected to the connect.- inpanel adja ent its pp r e. a b ttom panel connected to the connectingpanel adja cent its bottom edge and extending parallel to said p fla e,s id dbo om fla es having aligned apertures therethrough, and downturnedflanges on said bottom panel for support,- ing same above the plane inwhich the bottom edges of said first mentioned parallel panels lie.

Re eren e Cited n he fil hi patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number NameDate 1,240,376 Saucier Sept. 18, 191'? 1,263,323 Kaempf 7 Apr. 16,19182,337,914 Meldrum Dec. 28, 1943

